Jones Walker LLP announced today that James “Jim” A. Kearns has joined the firm as special counsel in the Maritime Practice Group in the Washington, DC, office.

Mr. Kearns is a maritime attorney with more than 30 years of experience representing several types of clients, including owners, operators, and financial institutions in the purchase, construction, and financing of vessels. Jim regularly counsels clients on the compliance of vessels with Jones Act requirements and handles a variety of maritime matters, including construction contracts, charters, leveraged lease financings, purchases, and sales.

“Jim’s extensive experience in and knowledge of the maritime industry are assets to our clients and legal team. We are pleased to have him join Jones Walker,” said Bill Hines, Managing Partner.

In his decades practicing law, Mr. Kearns has represented the construction and leveraged lease financing of almost 1,500 hopper barges for transporting dry bulk and agricultural cargo as well as advised the purchase, sale, and lease financing of switch boats used in inland waterway barge fleets. Mr. Kearns also has experience with financings under the Title XI loan guarantee program administered by the US Maritime Administration.

Mr. Kearns received his JD from the University of Notre Dame and an LLM in Taxation from New York University. He is admitted to practice law in the states of Missouri and New York, in the District of Columbia, and by the US Patent and Trademark office. Mr. Kearns also serves on the Board of Directors of Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals, Inc., and the American Public Philosophy Institute.

About Jones Walker

Jones Walker LLP (www.joneswalker.com) is among the 120 largest law firms in the United States serving local, regional, national, and international business interests with offices in Alabama, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, and Texas. The firm is committed to providing a comprehensive range of legal services to major multinational, public and private corporations, Fortune® 500 companies, money center banks, worldwide insurers, and emerging companies doing business in the United States and abroad.